Jet fuel not easy for terrorist schemers to ignite

Temperatures must be high before it burns

The premise is right out of a disaster movie: Ignite the massive fuel tanks required to keep an international airport up and running each day, stand back and watch a chain reaction of explosions throughout the labyrinth of pipelines running underneath the tarmac.

But aviation experts cautioned Saturday that the alleged plot targeting John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York would have faced numerous hurdles, not the least of which is the fact that jet fuel does not easily explode.

"The level of catastrophe that may be created is much more limited than most people would expect," said Rafi Ron, former head of security at Tel Aviv's Ben Gurion International Airport in Israel. "The fuel that we are talking about is mostly jet fuel which, unlike the gasoline most people put into their cars, is not that susceptible to explosion."

That difficulty apparently concerned one of the alleged plotters -- an engineer who, federal authorities said in their complaint, explained to his associates that the tanks at JFK probably would require two explosions to provide enough oxygen to ignite the fuel. But even then, aviation security experts said, fire would not have spread through the pressurized pipelines that bring fuel out to airplanes parked at gates.

"The probability that an explosion would travel through the pipeline and destroy targets along the tarmac is almost nil," said Ron, now president of New Age Security Solutions in Rockville, Md. "The exception would be pipelines that are not in use and contain vapor."

Jet fuel is similar to kerosene and, unlike gasoline, requires very high temperatures to burn. Unless it is in vapor or mist form -- which can occur in an airplane crash -- jet fuel should not explode. Additives that raise the flashpoint of jet fuel further reduce the likelihood that it will burn, experts said.

Major airports worldwide use holding tanks and pipelines, usually located underground, in a hydrant system that pumps fuel directly to the gates where airplanes are refueled. Readily available fuel is crucial to smooth operations. A single long-range Boeing 747 jumbo jet such as those used to fly from Los Angeles to Melbourne, Australia, can hold more than 63,500 gallons.

In West Palm Beach, airport officials, citing security measures, would not comment on specifics about the fuel.

"Appropriate security measures were in place, well before the arrests were announced," said Palm Beach International Airport operations supervisor Mike de Marcos. "The fuel depot has always been a well protected area."

Ron, the aviation security expert, said that regardless of how unlikely it was that the alleged plot would have caused extensive damage, it should be taken seriously.

"For the last six years, most security has been focused at protection of aircraft and the screening of passengers," said Ron, who helped revamp security at Boston's Logan International Airport in the aftermath of Sept. 11. "It's not enough to screen passengers, we need to protect the airports."

Staff Writer Jerome Burdi contributed to this report. The Los Angeles Times is a Tribune Co. newspaper.